Fans urged to show sportsmanship and responsibility during CU-CSU game

University of Colorado Boulder officials are urging CU fans to show sportsmanship and take buses or carpool with a designated driver to the 4 p.m. Rocky Mountain Showdown football game with Colorado State University on Sunday, Sept. 1.

“The Rocky Mountain Showdown with CSU is a great rivalry on the field, but off the field it’s a chance to showcase the achievements of our two great universities,” said CU-Boulder Chancellor Philip P. DiStefano. “In that spirit, we both want our student bodies and fans to be safe, be respectful of one another, demonstrate sportsmanship and represent our two universities with pride and character at all opportunities.”

Leaders from CU Student Government also are urging students to show school spirit in a respectful and responsible manner. “On Sunday, with our students, our players and notably our reputation on such a public platform it is imperative that we hold our heads high with dignity and conduct ourselves in a manner befitting our name,” the tri-executives said in a statement.

Students and all other fans should be aware that there will be a large contingent of uniformed and plain-clothes police officers assigned to the event.

Officers will be directed to strictly enforce all applicable local and state laws and special attention will be focused on alcohol possession and consumption. Violators will be cited and/or arrested for violations and individuals found to be under the influence of alcohol that may pose a danger to themselves or others may be placed in a detoxification facility.

The names of all students cited, arrested and/or ejected from the property for any reason will be shared with the CU and CSU Offices of Student Conduct and students may face administrative sanctions upon their return to campus. Fans with concerns about behavior while at Sports Authority Field can text RESPECT plus the message to 78247 or call the Fan Behavior Hotline at 720-258-3850 on game days.

No kegs are allowed on any Sports Authority Field property, including all parking lots. Sports Authority Field staff will be in the parking lots and will seize any banned items, including kegs. Sports Authority Field staff may eject unruly patrons from the site, including parking lots, and may seize their event tickets.

Alumni, friends, students and the general public are invited to attend the university’s Ralphie’s Corral pregame party in Lot C, just southwest of Sports Authority Field. It begins at 1 p.m. Admission is free and food and beverages will be available for purchase. To learn more or register for the pregame party visit http://alumni.colorado.edu. The Herd, one of the largest student groups in the nation with more than 6,000 members, will have a separate tent for its members in the same area.

Officials are asking fans to start entering the stadium at least an hour before kickoff in order to avoid a last-minute scramble to get into the stadium.

Free transportation is available for CU students traveling from Boulder to Denver for the game. Buff Buses will depart Coors Events Center at 12:30 p.m. Transportation will be available for the first 800 students who arrive. Students will need to show their student IDs to board the buses and free parking will be available in lot 436/494. Students should board buses immediately following the game to return to Boulder.

Regional Transportation District, or RTD, buses also will provide transportation to and from the game from several Park-n-Rides. Buses will depart for the game starting about two-and-a-half hours before kickoff until about an hour before the game starts. Service will resume immediately following the game and will continue until 45 minutes after the game ends. For an RTD schedule visit http://www.rtd-denver.com/CUvsCSU.shtml.

Each fan may carry one bag that is clear plastic, vinyl or PVC no larger than 12” x 6” x 12” or a one-gallon clear plastic freezer bag (Ziploc bag or similar).

In addition to one of the clear bags noted above, fans may also carry in a small clutch bag or purse approximately the size of a hand, with or without a handle or strap, subject to search.

Quotes

“The Rocky Mountain Showdown with CSU is a great rivalry on the field, but off the field it’s a chance to showcase the achievements of our two great universities,” said CU-Boulder Chancellor Philip P. DiStefano. “In that spirit, we both want our student bodies and fans to be safe, be respectful of one another, demonstrate sportsmanship and represent our two universities with pride and character at all opportunities.”